CMR Side-line View of the Chem Eng Cup 2022

The Chem Eng Cup is a hotly contested annual five-a-side soccer tournament held late in the year once there is some synergy between staff and PGs in the various groupings that make up the Chemical Engineering Department. The last Cup was held in 2019 and was won by CMR arch-rivals Catalysis. After a hiatus of two years, it fell to the winners of the 2019 cup to arrange the following one. They teamed up with Ceber to plan this year’s event.

Once the date was announced a couple of CMR staff and postgrads signed up to represent CMR FC, led by captain Refilwe Moalosi and coach Chris Mwamba. CMR FCs campaign, “Road to the Chem Eng Cup” was a commitment for some practise sessions before match day.

On the morning of the tournament, geared-up in their new CMR FC kit, the team consisting of 5 females and 6 males set off on foot to the Astroturf at Kopano for a little warm up and team photo and were ready for the 10h00 registration and kick-off at 10h30. CMR FC was in Group A and played three by twenty-minute matches with rolling reserves and at least one female on the pitch at all times.

Cheered on by the highly spirited CMR FC supporters the players were all very skilful with some fancy footwork to boot, getting the ball into the net no fewer than ten times, winning all three matches in Group A to proceed to the semi-finals. At this stage of the tournament the favourites from amongst, CAT1, CAT 2 and Platinum Legends were all knocked out of the tournament as well as Staff (Admin/A-staff).

This left Rock Solids to face Hydrometallica and CMR FC to face Ceber Titans. All the participants played their hearts out, with some minor injuries along the way. The CMR FC and Ceber Titans clash was a nailbiter and ended in a 1-1 draw. The match decider was by penalty shootout but the CMR FC goalkeeper, Thendo Tshinavhe was on fire, blocking two Titans shots and CMR FC won the game on points 3-1. The other semi was won by Rock Solids.

If ever you go into a final you can only think of one result and that is, bring the cup home. Not only was that the mindset of CMR FC but that was also the message from CMR management. After a vociferously and vehemently opposed disallowed goal for CMR FC, Rock solids were declared the Chem Eng Cup winners for 2022. Well done!

Well done too to all the players, refs, supporters (present and absent) and organisers, at the end of the day the tournament built new friendships, perhaps some new rivals but a basis for a spirit, climate and culture in which respect and social interaction can take root once again, post a pandemic.

Players: Refilwe, Chris, Noluthando, Thendo, Anam, Ronaldo, A’isha, Anam, Avuyile, Morina, Jawaad

Side-line writer: Shireen 27 October 2022